Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration
Home Office, 3rd Floor
Peel Building, 
2 Marsham Street
London, SW1P 4DF

Dear Liam Byrne

Re: Saleem Saddiq and Saima Saleem HO Ref: S1361390 and children Zulekha Saleem and Abdul Rehman Saddiq

I am writing to ask you to grant the Saddiq family the right to stay in Britain.

Saleem Saddiq and his family are from Karachi in Pakistan. They fled to the UK in 2005 because Saleem suffered persecution there due to his active membership of a minority political party. This persecution started in 2004 with threatening messages from members of other parties and developed into terrifying violent assaults including being abducted at gun point and being persued and shot at in the street. Saleem became so terrified for his safety that for a period of time he stopped going to work, as a production manager in a clothing factory, and lived in fear in the confines of his house.

Concerned for the safety of his wife and daughter, Saleem left them and came to the UK on a visitors visa to try to escape his opponents, assuming that if he disappeared for a while things would return to normal. But during his absence his opponents kept threatening his wife and daughter: Saima received threatening phone calls and visits from people trying to find Saleem, the family’s telephone was bugged and she was followed when she left her home. This in turn created great problems for his in-laws. 

He later returned to Pakistan to settle down with his family in Islamabad, but was also attacked by opponents there as confirmed by police reports and newspaper articles. Saleem received no support or protection from the police though, they told him they could not help as they would lose their jobs. In the end Saleem felt he had no option but to claim asylum in the UK with his family, which he did in 2005. His parents are still being harassed by people looking for him.

Saleem and Saima have a 16 month old son, Abdul, born here. Their daughter Zulekha, 3, is happy, settled and attending Holy Rosary Nursery in Harehills. Saleem, who has struggled with depression since his ordeal in Pakistan, is excelling on a BTEC National Award in Airport and Airline Operations. His tutors have commended his commitment and motivation. Saima has volunteered with SureStart, helping families new to Leeds to integrate, and has obtained a place on a full time course at Thomas Danby College.

The Home Office refuse to believe that Saleem was involved in politics in Pakistan even though he has provided official letters from his party, police reports and newspaper articles following attacks made on him as well as evidence relating to the on-going political difficulties in his country. His asylum claim has been refused and he has been given no further right of appeal. He was told that him and his family face imminent deportation to Pakistan. They are terrified that if they are deported their lives and those of their children will be in danger. 

The recent elections in Pakistan have done nothing to change the nature of the threat this family will face if they are returned.  

On Tuesday 26th February Border and Immigration Officials broke down their front door in a dawn raid.  They were given 20 minutes to pack up their belongings and then taken to Yarlswood.   They have been given a removal order for March 7th

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Name ----------------------------------   Address -----------------------------------------------

Town ---------------------------------------  Post code -------------------